Smooth Selection Show

Seven players from the Big 12 Conference were drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, but none went higher than Baylor's Jason Smith, who was made the No. 2 overall pick by the St. Louis Rams.

Smith matched the highest drafted Bears in school history, joining No. 2 overall picks Jack Wilson (Cleveland Rams, 1942) and Adrian Burk (Baltimore Colts, 1950), and is only the second Big 12 player to ever be selected in the top two picks (joining Leonard Davis of Texas, No. 2 to Arizona in 2001).

"To God be the glory," Smith said. "I'm built Ram tough. I'm excited that I was handed over to the Rams the right way, that Coach Kaz [Kaz Kazadi, Baylor strength coach], Coach Briles [head coach Art Briles] and Coach Clements [Randy Clements, offensive line coach] were with me."

The 6-6 offensive tackle from W.T. White High School in Dallas was also the first Baylor player to be selected in the first round since 1996, when Daryl Gardener was the No. 20 overall pick by the Miami Dolphins. Smith was the 15th first-rounder in school history.

"This is a great day for Jason Smith and his family and a great day for the Baylor family," Baylor head coach Art Briles said. "Baylor football couldn't have a better representative of our program at that level than Jason Smith right now. The Rams got a tremendous football player and a tremendous person with passion and discipline."

Baylor's first non-special teams All-American since 1995, Smith--nicknamed J. Smooth by teammates--earned first-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America and third-team honors from the Associated Press and Rivals.com.

A former tight end, Smith started four seasons on the offensive line and totaled 38 career starts. As a senior in 2008, he anchored a Baylor offensive line that paved the way for 2,349 rushing yards, a 251 percent increase from 2007's rushing total of 934 yards and the most rushing yards at BU since 1981. Smith graduated from Baylor with a bachelor's degree in education following his junior season.